Holy City Brewing releases beer into the wild

A brand-new Charleston microbrewery launches this week

About a year ago, word started to spread among local beer enthusiasts about new microbrewery in the works called Holy City Brewing. The rumors were true. Young entrepreneurs and avid homebrewers Joel Carl, Chris Brown, Mac Minaudo, and Sean Nemitz were indeed working to refurbish a small facility on Dorchester Road in North Charleston and turn it into a small-scale craft brewery.

After a year's worth of serious construction work and numerous test batches, Holy City Brewing is finally ready to tap their first public kegs of ale this week. They join Palmetto Brewing Co., COAST Brewing Co., and Westbrook Brewing Co. in Charleston's slowly growing microbrewery industry.

Delivered by Lee Distributors, a small amount of Holy City's Pluff Mud Porter and Fish Bowl IPA arrived in several bars and restaurants around town. A Czech-style pilsner is on the horizon. The brewers booked a "first tasting" session at Oak Barrel Tavern in the Avondale neighborhood in West Ashley for 7 p.m. on Thurs. July 21.